US warns gene technology can be used to create bio-weapons

New gene technology for scientific research could be used by terrorists to create biological weapons, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned on Wednesday at a Biological Weapons Conference in Geneva.

States must do a better job of reporting on measures to prevent the misuse of biological weapons, Clinton said.

Mrs. Clinton was addressing a global conference held every five years to review the Biological Weapons Convention banning biological and toxin weapons, which has been ratified by 165 states.

"We need thoughtful, international dialogue about the ways to maximize the benefits of scientific research and minimize the risks. The emerging gene synthesis industry is making genetic material widely available. This obviously has many benefits for research but it also could potentially be used to assemble the components of a deadly organism. There are warning signs, and they are too serious to ignore."

The US Government has also cited efforts by terror groups like Al-Qaeda to develop biological weapons.